
Class ^ B -i±i3 

Book . 1^7 

Copyright N° 



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The Book of Job 



A TRANSCRIPTION 



BY 

EDWIN FREEGARD 



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THE BOOK OF JOB 






A TRANSCRIPTION 

BY 

EDWIN FREEGARD 




The Freegard Press, St. Louis, Mo. 
1914 



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Copyright 1914 
By Edwin Freegard 



DEC 19 1914 
©CLA3930 16 



THE BOOK OF JOB 



PREFACE. 

This transcription of the Book of Job was made for the 
purpose of enabling the writer to its better understanding. 
Having read the book several times in the Authorized Version, 
the resulting impression was that, while the larger portion 
was clear and spiritually stimulating, a great many passages 
were obscure and difficult, as though the translators had im- 
perfectly rendered the original into the English language. 
This impression became emphasized on comparing the 
Authorized with the Revised Version of the Bible and with 
the alternate marginal readings. The result of this compari- 
son was so satisfactory, that a written copy of the book was 
made in order to furnish opportunity for selecting the render- 
ings which seemed most understandable. The necessarily 
slow work of comparison and selection happily afforded op- 
portunity for better appreciating the meaning of the author, 
or authors, of the book than did the ordinary casual reading 
of it. 

Who was the writer of the Book of Job is not known. Its 
oriental origin is obvious in its opening phrase — "There was a 
man in the land of Uz"; as though the oral story-teller was 
about to commence a fascinating narrative. That it was put 
into permanent literary form during the period embraced be- 
tween the reign of King Solomon and the return of the Jews 
from the Captivity seems to be acknowledged, as also that it 
was previously transmitted orally from narrator to narrator, 
and that additions had been made to its original form (as, for 
instance, the address of the younger man, Elihu, after the 
three older friends of Job had concluded). Tradition held 

5 



6 The Book of Job. 

that Job lived at some period between the death of Joseph and 
the Exodus of the Children of Israel. That it is historically 
a record of the experiences of one man is improbable. It is 
doubtless an allegory, the purpose of which is to elucidate, if 
possible, the great problems of life — sin and suffering; their 
dependence one on the other ; how God's dealings with men 
are conformable to law, even though the human mind is forced 
to the conclusion that it is incapable of unraveling the work- 
ings of that law. 

As stated by Professor John David Michaelis, of Gottin- 
gen (1750) : "I feel very little doubt that the subject of the 
poem is altogether fabulous, and designed to teach us that, 
the rewards of virtue being in another state, it is very possible 
for the good to suffer afflictions in this life ; but that, when 
it so happens, it is permitted by Providence for the wisest 
reasons, though they may not be obvious to human eyes.'' 

No one carefully reading the Book of Job can fail to be 
impressed with the fact that it is a masterly discussion of the 
greatest of all human problems, even though at its conclusion 
one retains the conviction that the problem is still unsolved. 

"Who by searching can find out God? Who can under- 
stand the Almighty unto the perfection?" 

In this connection, however, one cannot fail to appreciate 
the comfortable Christian teaching enunciated by St. Paul in 
his first letter to the Corinthians (10:13): "There hath no 
temptation [trial | taken you but such as is common to man; 
but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted 
above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make 
a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 

Edwin Freegard. 
St. Louis, Mo. 
Xnvcmber, 1909. 



The Book of Job. 



From the Encyclopedia Britannica. 

The Book of Job, the most splendid creation of the 
Hebrew poetry, is so called from the name of the man whose 
history and afflictions and sayings form the theme of it. 

Contents. — As it now lies before us it consists of five 
parts. (1.) The prologue, in prose (chapters 1 and 2), de- 
scribes in rapid and dramatic steps the history of this man, 
his piety, and prosperity and greatness corresponding to his 
godliness; then how his life is drawn in under the operation 
of the trying, sifting providence of God, through the suspicion 
suggested by Satan, the minister of this aspect of God's provi- 
dence, that his godliness is but selfish and only the natural re- 
turn for the unexampled prosperity bestowed upon him, and 
the insinuation that if stripped of his prosperity he will re- 
nounce God to His face. These suspicious bring down two 
severe calamities on Job, one depriving him of all external 
blessings, children and possessions alike, and the other throw- 
ing the man himself under a loathsome and painful malady. 
In spite of these afflictions Job retains his integrity and as- 
cribes no wrong to God. Then the advent of Job's three 
friends is described, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, 
and Zophar the Naamathite, who, having heard of Job's 
calamities, come to condole with him. 

(2) The body of the book, in poetry (chapters 3 to 31), 
contains a series of speeches in which the problem of Job's 
afflictions and the relation of external evil to the righteous- 
ness of God and the conduct of men is brilliantly discussed. 
That part is divided into three cycles, each containing four 
speeches, one by Job and one by each of his friends (chapters 



8 The Book of Job. 

3 to 14; 15 to 21; 22 to 31), although in the last cycle the 
third speaker, Zophar, fails to answer, and Job, having driven 
his opponents from the field, carries his reply through a series 
of discourses in which he dwells in pathetic words upon his 
early prosperity, contrasting with it his present misery and 
humiliation, and ends with a solemn repudiation of all the 
offences that had been insinuated or might be suggested 
against him, and a challenge to God to appear and put his 
hand to the charge which he had against him and for which 
he afflicted him. 

(3.) A youthful bystander named Elihu, the representa- 
tive of a younger generation, who had been a silent observer of 
the debate, intervenes and expresses his dissatisfaction with 
the manner in which both Job and his friends had conducted 
the cause, and offers what in some respects is a new solution 
of the question (chapters 32 to 37). 

(4.) In answer to Job's repeated demands that God 
would appear and solve the riddle of his life, the Lord an- 
swers Job out of the whirlwind. The Divine speaker does 
not condescend to refer to Job's individual problem; but in a 
series of ironical interrogations asks him, as he thinks himself 
capable of fathoming all things, to expound the mysteries of 
the origin and subsistence of the world, the phenomena of the 
atmosphere, the instincts of the creatures that inhabit the 
desert, and, as he judges God's conduct of the world amiss, 
invites him to seize the reins himself and gird him with the 
Divine thunder and quell the rebellious forces of evil in the 
universe (chapters 38 to 42:6). Job is humbled and abashed, 
and lays his hand upon his mouth, and repents his hast)' words 
in dust and ashes. No solution of his problem is vouchsafed ; 
hut God himself effects that which neither the man's own 
thoughts of God nor the representations of his friends could 
accomplish : he heard of Him with the hearing of the ear with- 



The Book of Job. 9 

out effect, but now his eye saw Him. This is the profoundest 
religious deep in the book. 

(5.) The epilogue, also in prose (chapter 42:7-17), de- 
scribes Job's restoration to a prosperity double that of his 
former estate, his family felicity, and long life. 



THE BOOK OF JOB 



Chapter 1. 

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was 
Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that 

2 feared God and eschewed evil. And there were born 

3 unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance 
also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, 
and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, 
and a very great household; so that this man was the 

4 greatest of all the children of the east. And his sons went 
and held a feast in the house of each one upon his day ; 
and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and 

5 to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their 
feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified 
them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt 
offerings according to the number of them all : for Job 
said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and renounced 
God in their hearts." Thus did Job continually. 

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to 
present themselves before the Lord, and Satan [the Adver- 

7 sary] came also among them. And the Lord said unto 
Satan, "Whence comest thou?" Then Satan answered the 
Lord, and said, "From going to and from in the earth, and 

8 from walking up and down in it." And the Lord said unto 
Satan, "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is 
none like him in the earth — a perfect and an upright man, 

9 one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" Then Satan 
answered the Lord, and said, "Doth Job fear God for 

10 naught? Hast thou not made a hedge about him, and 

11 



12 The Book of Job. 

about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? 
Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his sub- 

11 stance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand 
now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee 

12 to thy face." And the Lord said unto Satan, "Behold, all 
that he hath is in thy power ; only upon himself put not 
forth thine hand." So Satan went forth from the presence 
of the Lord. 

13 And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters 
were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's 

14 house : and there came a messenger unto Job, and said, 
"The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside 

15 them; and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them 
away ; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of 
the sword ; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee." 

16 While he was yet speaking there came also another, and 
said, "A great fire hath fallen from heaven, and hath 
burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed 

17 them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee." While he 
was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, "The 
Chaldeans came out in three bands, and rushed upon the 
camels, and have taken them away ; yea, and slain the ser- 
vants with the edge of the sword ; and 1 only am escaped 

18 alone to tell thee." While he was yet speaking, there 
came also another, and said, "Thy sons and daughters 
were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's 

1 ( J house; and, behold, there came a great wind over from the 
wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and 
it fell Upon the young men, and they are dead; and 1 only 

20 am escaped alone to tell thee." Then Job arose and rent 
his mantle, and fell down upon the ground, and wor- 

21 shipped; and he said. "Naked came 1 out of my mother's 
womb, and naked shall I return thither; the LORD gave, 



The Book of Job. 13 

and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the 
22 Lord/' In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God fool- 
ishly. 

Chapter 2. 

1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to 
present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also 

2 among them to present himself before the Lord. And 
the Lord said unto Satan, "From whence comest thou?" 
And Satan answered the Lord, and said, "From going 
to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in 

3 it." And the Lord said unto Satan, "Hast thou considered 
my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth — 
a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and 
escheweth evil? and he still holdeth fast his integrity, al- 
though thou movedst me against him to destroy him with- 

4 out cause." And Satan answered the Lord, and said, 
"Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for 

5 his life ; but put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone 
and his flesh and he will renounce thee to thy face." 

6 And the Lord said unto Satan, "Behold he is in thine hand ; 
but only spare his life." 

7 So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, 
and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot 

8 unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrap 
himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 

9 Then said his wife unto him, "Dost thou still hold 

10 fast thine integrity? Renounce God and die." But he 
said unto her, "ThoU speakest as one of the foolish 
women speaketh. What ! shall we receive good at the 
hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this 
did not Job sin with his lips. 



14 The Book of Job. 

11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all the evil 
which was come upon him, they came every one from his 
own place : Eliphaz, the Temanite ; and Bildad, the Shu- 
hite; and Zophar, the Naamathite; for they made an ap- 
pointment together to come to mourn with him and to 

12 comfort him. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, 
and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept, 

13 and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. So 
they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and 
seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they 
saw that his pain was very great. 

Job's Lament. 
Chapter 3. 

1 After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day ; 

2 and Job spake, and said: 

3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, 
And the night wherein it was said, 
"There is a man child conceived." 

4 Let the day be darkness, 

Let not God inquire after it from above, 
Neither let the light shine upon it. 

5 Let deep darkness and the shadow of death claim it for 

their own ; 
Let a cloud dwell upon it ; 
Let all that maketh black the day terrify it. 

6 As for that night, 

Let thick darkness seize upon it ; 

Let it not be joined unto the days of the year ; 

Let it not come into the number of the months. 

7 Lo ! let that night be barren ; 
Let no joyful voice come therein. 



The Book of Job. 15 

8 Let them curse it that curse the day, 

Who are skillful to raise up their mourning. 

9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; 
Let it look for light, but have none; 

Neither let it behold the eyelids of the morning: 

10 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, 
Nor hid trouble from mine eyes. 

11 Why died I not from the womb? 

Why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the 
belly? 

12 Why did the knees receive me? 

Or why the breasts, that I should suck? 

13 For now I should have lain still and been quiet; 
I should have slept. 

Then had I been at rest, 

14 With kings and counsellors of the earth, 
Which built up desolate places for themselves; 

15 Or with princes that had gold, 
Who filled their houses with silver. 

16 Or as a hidden untimely birth, I had not been ; 
As infants which never saw light. 

17 There the wicked cease from troubling; 
And there the weary be at rest. 

18 There the prisoners are at ease together ; 
They hear not the voice of the taskmaker. 

19 The small and the great are there ; 
And the slave is free from his master. 

20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, 
And life unto the bitter in soul? 

21 Which wait long for death, but it cometh not; 
And dig for it more than for hid treasures ; 

22 Which rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they can find 

the grave? 



16 The Book of Job. 

23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, 
And whom God hath hedged in ? 

24 For my sighing cometh with my food, 
And my roarings are poured out like water. 

25 For the thing which I greatly fear is come upon me, 
And that which I am afraid of cometh unto me. 

26 I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, 
Neither have I rest ; yet trouble cometh. 

The Philosophy of Eliphaz. 
Chapter 4. 

1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said : 

2 If one essay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? 
But who can withhold himself from speaking? 

3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, 

And thou hast strengthened the weak hands ; 

4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, 
And thou hast strengthened the feeble knees ; 

5 But now it is come unto thee, and thou faintest ; 
It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. 

6 Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, 
And thy hope the uprightness of thy ways? 

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? 
Or where were the upright cut off? 

8 According as I have seen, 

They that plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. 

9 By the breath of God they perish, 

And by the blast of his anger are they consumed. 

10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, 
And the teeth of the young lions, are broken. 

11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, 

And the w helps of the lioness are scattered abroad. 



The Book of Job. 17 

12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, 
And mine ear received a whisper thereof. 

13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, 
When deep sleep f alleth upon man, 

14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, 
Which made all my bones to shake. 

15 Then a spirit passed before my face; 
The hair of my flesh stood up; 

16 It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance 

thereof ; 
A form was before mine eyes ; 
There was stillness, and I heard a voice saying: 

17 "Shall mortal man be just before God? 
Shall a man be pure before his Maker ? 

18 Behold, he putteth no trust in his servants, 
And his angels he charged with folly : 

19 How much more so them that dwell in houses of clay, 
Whose foundation is in the dust, 

Which are crushed before the moth! 

20 Betwixt morning and evening they are destroyed ; 
They perish for ever without any regarding it. 

21 Doth not the excellency which is in them go away? 
They die, and that without wisdom." 

Chapter 5. 

1 Call now ! Is there any that will answer thee ; 
And to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn? 

2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, 
And envy slayeth the silly one. 

3 I have seen the foolish taking root; 
But suddenly I cursed his habitation. 

4 His children are far from safety, 
And they are crushed in the gate ; 
Neither is there any to deliver them. 



18 The Book of Job. 

5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, 
And taketh it even out of the thorns, 

And the robber swalloweth up their substance. 

6 For affliction cometh not forth of the dust, 
Neither doth trouble spring out of the ground ; 

7 But man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward. 

8 But as for me, I would seek unto God, 
And unto God would I commit my cause ; 

9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable — 
Marvellous things without number : 

10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, 
And sendeth waters upon the fields ; 

11 So that he setteth up on high those that be low, 
And those which mourn are exalted to safety. 

12 He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, 

So that their hands perform not their enterprise. 

13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness, 

And the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. 

14 They meet with darkness in the day-time, 
And grope at noon-day as in the night. 

15 But he saveth the poor from the sword of their mouth, 
Even the needy from the hand of the mighty. 

16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth. 

17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth : 
Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. 

18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up; 

He woundeth, and his hands make whole. 

19 Me shall deliver thee in six troubles; 

Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. 

20 Tn famine he shall redeem thee from death; 
And in war from the power of the sword. 

21 Thou shall be hid from the scourge of the tongue; 
Neither shall thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. 



The Book of Job. 19 

22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh ; 

Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 

23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field ; 
And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. 

24 And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace, 

And thou shalt visit thy fold and shalt miss nothing. 

25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, 
And thine offspring as the grass of the earth. 

26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, 
Like as a shock of corn cometh in in its season. 

27 Lo this : we have searched it, so it is ; 
Hear it, and know thou it for thy good. 

Job's rejoinder to Eliphaz. 
Chapter 6. 

1 Then Job answered, and said: 

2 Oh, that my grief were throughly weighed, 
And my calamity laid in the balances together. 

3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea : 
Therefore have my words been rash. 

4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, 
The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: 

The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. 

5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass ? 
Or loweth the ox over his fodder ? 

6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? 
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? 

7 My soul refuseth to touch them; 
They are loathsome meat to me. 

8 Oh, that I might have my request, 

And that God would grant me the thing that I long for ! 

9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; 



20 The Book of Job. 

That he would let loose his hand and cut me off ! 

10 Then should I yet have comfort; 

Yea, I would exult in pain that spareth not; 

For I have not denied the words of the Holy One. 

11 What is my strength, that I should wait? 

And what is mine end, that I should be patient? 

12 Is my strength the strength of stones? 
Or is my flesh of brass? 

13 Is it not that I have no help in me, 

And that sound wisdom is driven quite from me? 

14 To him that is afflicted, kindness should be shewed from 

his friend, 
Else might he forsake the fear of the Almighty. 

15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook; 
As the current of brooks, they pass away ; 

16 Which are black by reason of the ice. 
And wherein the snow hideth itself : 

17 What time they wax warm they vanish: 

When it is hot they are consumed out of their place. 

18 The caravans that travel by the way of them turn aside ; 
They go up into the desert, and perish. 

19 The caravans of Tenia looked — 

The companies of Sheba waited for them : 

20 They were ashamed because they had hoped ; 
They came thither, and were confounded. 

21 For now ye are nothing [to mel ; 
Ye see my terror, and arc afraid. 

22 Did I say, "Give unto me?" 

( )r, "Offer a present for me of your substance?" 

23 Or, "Deliver me from the adversary's hand?" 

Or, "Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?" 

24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace ; 

And cause me to understand wherein I have erred. 



The Book of Job. 21 

25 How forcible are right words ! 

But what doth your arguing reprove? 

26 Do you imagine to reprove words, 

Seeing the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind? 
21 Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, 
And would make merchandise of your friend. 

28 Now therefore be pleased to look upon me ; 
For it will be evident unto you if I lie. 

29 Return, I pray you; let there be no injustice; 
Yea, return again, for my cause is righteous. 

30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? 

Can not my taste discern perverse things? 
Chapter 7. 

1 Is there not a warfare appointed to man upon earth? 
Are not his days like the days of an hireling? 

2 As a servant that earnestly desireth the shadow, 
And as an hireling that looketh for his wages, 

3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, 
And wearisome nights are appointed to me. 

4 When I lie down, I say : "When shall I arise ?" 
But the night is long, and I am full of tossings 
To and fro until the dawning of the day. 

5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust ; 
My skin is broken, and become loathsome. 

6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, 
And are spent without hope. 

7 Oh, remember that my life is vanity ; 
Mine eye shall no more see good. 

8 The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more ; 
Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be. 

9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, 

So he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no 
more. 



22 The Book of Job. 

10 He shall return no more to his house, 
Neither shall his place know him any more. 

1 1 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth ; 
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit ; 

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 

12 Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, 
That thou settest a watch over me? 

13 When I say, "My bed shall comfort me; 
My couch shall ease my complaint," 

14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, 
And terrifiest me through visions : 

15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, 
And death rather than life. 

16 I loathe my life ; I would not live alway ; 
Let me alone, for my days are vanity. 

17 What is man, that thou shouldst magnify him? 
And that thou shouldst set thine heart upon him? 

18 And that thou shouldst visit him every morning. 
And try him every moment? 

19 How long wilt thou not look away from me, 
Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? 

20 If I have sinned, what can I do unto thee, 
O thou watcher of men? 

Why hast thou set me as a mark for thee, 
So that I am a burden to myself? 

21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression. 
And take away mine iniquity? 

For now shall I lie down in the dust. 

And thou shalt seek me diligently, but shall not find me. 



The Book of Job. 23 

The Reproof of Bildad. 
Chapter 8. 

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said : 

2 How long wilt thou speak these things? 

And how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a 
mighty wind? 

3 Doth God pervert judgment? 

Or doth the Almighty pervert justice? 

4 If thy children have sinned against him, 

And he have cast them away for their transgressions ; 

5 If thou wouldst seek diligently unto God, 
And make thy supplication unto the Almighty; 

6 If thou wert pure and upright, 
Surely he would now awake for thee, 

And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. 

7 And though thy beginning was small, 
Yet thy latter end should greatly increase. 

8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, 

And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched 
out: 

9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, 
Because our days upon earth are a shadow:) 

10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, 
And utter words out of their heart? 

11 Can the rush grow up without mire? 
Can the flag grow up without water? 

12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, 
It withereth before any other herb. 

13 So are the paths of all that forget God ; 

And the hope of the godless man shall perish; 

14 Whose confidence shall break in sunder, 
And whose trust is a spider's web. 



24 The Book of Job. 

15 He shall lean against his tent, but it shall not stand; 
He shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. 

16 He is green before the sun, 

And his branches shoot forth over his garden ; 

17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, 
And he beholdeth the place of stones. 

18 If he be destroyed from his place, 

Then it shall deny him ; saying, "I have not seen thee." 

19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, 

And out of the dust shall others spring. 

20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, 
Neither will he uphold the evil doers. 

21 He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, 
And thy lips with shouting. 

22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame, 
And the tent of the wicked shall be no more. 

Job's Reply to Bildad. 
Chapter 9. 

1 Then Job answered and said : 

2 I know it is so of a truth : 

For how can man be just before God? 

3 If he should contend with him, 

1 fe cannot answer him one of a thousand. 

4 I [e is wise in heart and mighty in strength : 

Who hath hardened himself against him and prospered? 

5 Which removeth mountains, and they know it not, 
When he overturned) them in his anger. 

6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, 
And the pillars thereof tremble. 

7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not. 
And sealeth up the stars. 



The Book of Job. 25 

8 Which alone stretcheth out the heavens, 
And treadeth upon the waves of the sea. 

9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and the Pleiades, 
And the chambers of the south. 

10 Which doeth great things past finding out; 
Yea, marvellous things without number. 

11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: 
He passeth on also, but I perceive him not. 

12 Behold, he taketh away ; who can hinder him ? 
Who will say unto him, "What doest thou?" 

13 If God will not withdraw his anger, 

The proud and their helpers do stoop before him. 

14 How much less shall I answer him, 

And choose out my words to reason with him? 

15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would not I answer; 
But I would make my supplication to my judge. 

16 If I had called, and he had answered me, 

Yet would I not believe he had harkened unto my voice. 

17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, 

And multiplieth my wounds without cause. 

18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, 
But filleth me with bitterness. 

19 If I speak of the strength of the mighty, 
Lo, who is strong as he? 

And if of judgment, 

Who shall set me a time to plead with him? 

20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me; 
Though I be righteous, he shall prove me perverse. 

21 Though I be perfect, yet I regard not myself ; 

22 I despise my life. It is all one thing; 

Therefore I say, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. 

23 If the scourge slay suddenly, 

He laugheth at the calamity of the innocent. 



26 The Book of Job. 

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked : 
He covereth the faces of the judges thereof; 



If it be not he, who then is it? 

25 Now my days are swifter than a runner : 
They flee away, they see no good. 

26 They are passed away as the swift ships ; 
As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey. 

27 If I say, "I will forget my complaint; 

I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself ;" 

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows ; 

I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. 

29 If I be condemned, why then do I labour in vain? 

30 If I wash myself with snow water. 
And make my hands never so clean ; 

31 Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch. 
And mine own clothes shall abhor me. 

32 For he is not a man as I am, that I should answer him, 
That we should come together in judgment. 

33 Neither is there any days-man betwixt us, 
That might lay his hand upon us both. 

34 Let him take his rod away from me, 
And let not his terror make me afraid: 

35 Then would I speak, and not fear him ; 
But I am not so in myself : 

Chapter 10. 

1 My soul is weary of my life : 

T will give free course to my complaint ; 
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 

2 I will say unto God, "Do not condemn me ; 
Show me wherefore thou contendest with me. 

3 I s it good unto thee that thou shouldst oppress, 
That thou shouldst despise the work of thine hands, 
And shine upon the counsel of the wicked? 



The Book of Job. 27 

4 Hast thou eyes of flesh, or seest thou as man seeth? 

5 Are thy days as the days of man? 
Are thy years as man's days, 

6 That thou inquirest after iniquity and searchest after my 

sin? 

7 Although thou knowest I am not wicked, 

And there is none can deliver out of thine hand. 

8 Thine hands have framed me and fashioned me together 

round about; 
Yet thou dost destroy me. 

9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast fashioned me as 

the clay; 
And wilt thou bring me into dust again? 

10 Hast thou not poured me out as milk, 
And curdled me like cheese? 

11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, 
And knit me together with bones and sinews. 

12 Thou hast granted me life and favor, 

And thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. 

13 Yet these things hast thou hid in thine heart; 
I know that this is hid with thee. 

14 If I sin, then thou markest me, 

And thou wilt not acquit me of mine iniquity. 

15 If I be wicked, woe unto me; 

And if I be righteous, yet shall I not lift up my head. 

I am full of confusion, 

By reason of looking upon mine affliction, 

16 For it increaseth. 

Thou huntest me as a fierce lion, 

And again thou showest thyself marvellous upon me. 

17 Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, 
And increaseth thine indignation upon me; 
Changes and warfare are with me. 



28 The Book of Job. 

18 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the 

womb? 
I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me. 

19 I should have been as though I had not been ; 

I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. 

20 Are not my days few? 
Cease then and let me alone, 
That I may take comfort a little 

21 Before I go whence I shall not return, 

Even to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death ; 

22 A land of thick darkness, as darkness itself, 
Without any order, and where the light is as darknt 

The Reproof of Zophar. 
Chapter 11. 

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said: 

2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? 
And should a man full of talk be justified? 

3 Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? 

And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed ? 

4 For thou sayest, "My doctrine is pure, 
And I am clean in thine eyes." 

5 But, oh that God would speak, and open his lips against 

thee ; 

6 And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom, 
That they are manifold in their working! 

Know therefore that God exacteth of thee 
Less than thine iniquity deserveth. 

7 Canst thou by searching find out God? 

Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? 

8 This knowledge is high as heaven; what canst thou do? 
Deeper than the grave; what canst thou know? 



The Book of Job. 29 

9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, 
And broader than the sea. 

10 If he pass through and shut up, and call unto judgment, 
Then who can hinder him? 

11 For he knoweth vain men; he seeth iniquity also, 
Even though he consider it not. 

12 But vain man is void of understanding; 
Yea, man is born like unto a wild ass's colt. 

13 If thou set thine heart aright, 

And stretch out thine hands toward him; 

14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, 
And let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents ; 

15 Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; 
Yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear : 

16 For thou shalt forget thy misery, 

And remember it as waters that are passed away: 

17 And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday. 
Though there hath been darkness, 

It shall be as the morning; 

18 And thou shall be secure, because there is hope ; 

Yea, thou shalt search about thee, and shalt take thy rest 
in safety; 

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid ; 
Yea, many shall make suit unto thee. 

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, 
And they shall have no way to escape, 

And their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost. 



30 The Book of Job. 

Job's Reply to Zophar. 
Chapter 12. 

1 And Job answered and said : 

2 No doubt but ye are the people, 
And wisdom shall die with you. 

3 But I have understanding as well as you ; 
I am not inferior to you ; 

Yea, who knoweth not such things as these? 

4 I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour — 
A man that called upon God, and he answered him : 
The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock. 

5 In the thought of him that is at ease 
There is contempt for misfortune ; 

It is ready for them whose foot slippeth. 

6 The tents of robbers prosper, 

And they that provoke God are secure ; 
Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. 

7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee ; 
And the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee : 

8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee ; 
And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 

9 Who knoweth not in all these, 

That the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? 

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, 
And the breath of all mankind. 

11 Doth not the ear try words. 
Even as the palate tasteth its meat? 

12 With the aged men is wisdom; 

And in length of days understanding. 

13 With him is wisdom and strength; 
lie hath counsel and understanding. 

14 Behold, lie breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; 



The Book of Job. 31 

He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. 

15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; 
Also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. 

16 With him is strength and wisdom: 
The deceived and the deceiver are his. 

17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, 
And judges maketh he fools. 

18 He looseth the bond of kings, 

And bindeth their loins with a girdle. 

19 He leadeth priests away spoiled, 
And overthroweth the mighty. 

20 He removeth the speech of the trusty, 

And taketh away the understanding of the elders. 

21 He poureth contempt upon princes, 

And weakeneth the strength of the mighty. 

22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, 
And bringeth out to light the shadow of death. 

23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: 
He spreadeth the nations abroad, 

And straiteneth them again. 

24 He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of 

the earth, 
And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there 
is no way. 

25 They grope in the dark without light, 

And he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man. 
Chapter 13. 

1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, 

Mine ear hath heard and understood it. 

2 What ye know, the same do I know also : 
I am not inferior unto you. 

3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, 
And I desire to reason with God. 



32 The Book of Job. 

4 But ye are forgers of lies ; 

Ye are all physicians of no value. 

5 Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace ! 
And it should be to your wisdom. 

6 Hear now my reasoning, 

And hearken to the pleading of my lips. 

7 Will ye speak unrighteously for God, 
And talk deceitfully for him? 

8 Will ye show him favour? 
Will ye contend for God? 

9 Is it good that he should search you out? 

Or as one man deceiveth another, will ye deceive him? 

10 He will surely reprove you if ye do secretly respect persons. 

11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid, 
And his dread fall upon you? 

12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, 
Your defences are of clay. 

13 Hold your peace; let me alone, that I may speak, 
And let come on me what will. 

14 Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, 
And put my life in mine hand? 

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him; 
Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him. 

16 He also shall be my salvation ; 

For a hypocrite shall not come before him. 

17 Hear diligently my speech. 

And let my declaration be in your ears. 

18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause: 
I know that I shall be justified. 

19 Who is he that shall contend with me? 

For now, if 1 hold my tongue, 1 shall give Up the ghost. 

20 ( )nly do not two things unto me, 
Then will I not hide myself from thee: 



The Book of Job. 33 

21 Withdraw thine hand far from me, 
And let not thy terror make me afraid. 

22 Then call thou, and I will answer ; 
Or let me speak, and answer thou me. 

23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? 
Make me to know my transgression and my sin. 

24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, 
And holdest me for thine enemy? 

25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? 
And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? 

26 For thou writest bitter things against me, 

And makest me to inherit the inquities of my youth : 

27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, 
And lookest narrowly unto all my paths ; 

Thou drawest thee a line about the soles of my feet ; 

28 Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth, 
Like a garment that is moth-eaten. 

Chapter 14. 

1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, 
And full of trouble. 

2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down : 

He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. , 

3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, 
And bringest me into judgment with thee? 

4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? 
Not one. 

5 Seeing his days are determined, 

The number of his months is with thee, 

And thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass ; 

6 Look away from him that he may rest, 

Till he shall accomplish as an hireling his day. 

7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, 
That it will sprout again, 



34 The Book of Job. 

And that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 

8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, 
And the stock thereof die in the ground ; 

9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, 
And put forth boughs like a plant. 

10 But man dieth, and wasteth away; 

Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 

11 As the waters of the sea fail, and the river dryeth up; 

12 So man lieth down and riseth not: 

Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, 
Nor be roused out of their sleep. 

13 Oh that thou wouldst hide me in the grave; 
That thou wouldst keep me secret, 

Until thy wrath be past; 

That thou wouldst appoint me a set time, 

And remember me ! 

14 If a man die, shall he live again? 

All the days of my appointed time will I wait, 
Till my release shall come. 

15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: 

Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. 

16 But now thou numberest my steps: 
Dost thou not watch over my sin? 

17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, , 
And thou fastenest up mine iniquity. 

18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to naught, 
And the rock is removed out of its place. 

V) The waters wear the stones; 

The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth : 
And thou destroyest the hope of man. 

20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth : 
Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. 

21 His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; 






The Book of Job. 35 

And they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. 
22 But his flesh upon him hath pain, 
And his soul within him mourneth. 

The Second Address of Eliphaz. 
Chapter 15. 

1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said: 

2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, 
And fill his belly with the east wind? 

3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk, 

Or with speeches wherewith he can do no good? 

4 Yea, thou doest away with fear, 
And restrainest prayer before God. 

5 For thine inquity teachest thy mouth, 

And thou choosest the tongue of the crafty. 

6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I ; 
Yea, thine own lips testify against thee. 

7 Art thou the first man that was born ? 

Or wast thou brought forth before the hills? 

8 Hast thou heard the secret counsel of God? 
And dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself ? 

9 What knowest thou that we know not? 
What understandest thou which is not in us? 

10 With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, 
Much older than thy father. 

11 Are the consolations of God too small for thee? 
Is there any secret thing with thee ? 

12 Why doth thine heart carry thee away? 
And what do thine eyes wink at, 

13 That thou turnest thy spirit against God, 
And lettest such words go out of thy mouth ? 

14 What is man that he should be clean? 



36 The Book of Job. 

And he which is born of a woman 
That he should be righteous? 

15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his holy ones; 
Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight: 

16 How much less one that is abominable and corrupt, 
A man that drinketh iniquity like water ! 

17 I will shew thee; hear thou me! 

And that which I have seen I will declare : 

18 (Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have 

not hid it ; 

19 Unto whom the land was given, and no stranger passed 

among them!) 

20 The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, 

Even the number of years that are laid up for the op- 
pressor. , 

21 A dreadful sound is in his ears : 

In prosperity the spoiler shall come upon him. 

22 He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, 
And he is waited for of the sword; 

23 He wandereth abroad for bread, 
Saying, "Where is it?" 

He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at hand. 

24 Distress and anguish make him afraid ; 

They prevail against him as a king ready for battle; 

25 Because he hath stretched out his hand against God, 
And behaveth himself proudly against the Almighty. 

26 lie runneth upon him with a stiff neck, 
With the thick bosses of his bucklers ; 

27 Because he hath covered his face with fatness, 
And made COllopS of fat on his Hanks; 

28 And he hath dwelt in desolate cities. 
In houses which no man inhabiteth, 
Which were ready to become heaps. 



The Book of Job. 37 

29 He shall not be rich, 

Neither shall his substance continue, 

Neither shall their produce bend to the earth. 

30 He shall not depart out of darkness ; 
The flame shall dry up his branches, 

And by the breath of his mouth shall he go away. 

31 Let him not trust in vanity, deceiving himself : 
For vanity shall be his recompense. 

32 It shall be paid in full before his time, 
And his branch shall not be green. 

33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, 
And shall cast off his flower as the olive. 

34 For the company of the godless shall be barren, 
And fire shall consume the tents of bribery. 

35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity, 
And their belly prepareth deceit. 

Job's Second Reply to Eliphaz. 
Chapter 16. 

1 Then Job answered and said: 

2 I have heard many such things : 
Miserable comforters are ye all. 

3 Shall vain words have an end? 

Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest? 

4 I also could speak as ye do: 

If your soul were in my soul's stead, 

I could heap up words against you and shake my head 
at you. 

5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, 

And the solace of my lips should assuage your grief. 

6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged ; 
And though I forbear, what am I the easier? 



38 The Book of Job. 

7 But now he hath made me weary, 
Thou dost make desolate all my company. 

8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, 
Which is a witness against me; 

And my leanness rising up against me 
Testifieth to my face. 

9 He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me ; 
He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth ; 

Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me. 

10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth ; 

They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully ; 
They gather themselves together against me. 

11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, 

And turned me over into the hands of the wicked. 

12 1 was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder ; 
Yea, he hath taken me by the neck 

And shaken me to pieces ; 

He hath also set me up for his mark. 

13 His archers compass me round about; 

He cleaveth my reins in sunder, and doth not spare ; 
He poureth out my gall upon the ground. 

14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach ; 
He runneth upon me like a mighty giant. 

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, 
And have laid my horn in the dust ; 

16 My face is foul with weeping, 

And on my eyelids is the shadow of death ; 

17 Although there is no violence in mine hands, 
And my prayer is pure. 

18 O earth, cover not thou my blood. 
And let my cry have no resting place. 

19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. 
And he that vouchcth for me is on high. 



The Book of Job. 39 

20 My friends scorn me ; 

But mine eye poureth out tears unto God ; 

21 That he would plead the right of a man, 
As a man pleadeth with his neighbour. 

22 For when a few years have passed, 

Then shall I go the way whence I shall not return. 
Chapter 17. 

1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, 
The grave is ready for me. 

2 Surely there are mockers with me, 

And mine eye abideth in their provocation. 

3 Give now a pledge : be thou surety for me : 
Who is there that will strike hands with me? 

4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding; 
Therefore shalt thou not exalt them. 

5 He that denounceth his friends for a prey, 
Even the eyes of his children shall fail. 

6 He hath made me also a byword of the people. 
And I am become as one in whose face they spit. 

7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, 
And my members are as a shadow. 

8 Upright men shall be astonished at this, 

And the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. 

9 Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, 

And he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and 
stronger. 

10 But as for you all, return ye, and come now, 
And I shall not find a wise man among you. 

11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, 
Even the thoughts of my heart. 

12 They change the night into day ; 

Again, they make the light short because of darkness. 

13 If I wait, the grave is mine house; 



40 The Book of Job. 

1 have made my bed in the darkness. 

14 I have said to corruption, "Thou art my father;" 
To the worm, "Thou art my mother, and my sister.' 

15 And where then is my hope? 

As for my hope, who shall see it? 

16 It shall go down to the bars of the grave, 
And there rest with me in the dust. 

The Second Address of Bildad. 
Chapter 18. 

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said: 

2 How long will ye continue to lay snares for words? 
Consider, and afterwards we will speak. 

3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, 
And reputed vile in your sight? 

4 Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger, 
Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? 

Or shall the rock be removed out of its place? 

5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out. 
And the spark of his fire shall not shine. 

6 The light shall be dark in his tent, 
And his lamp above shall be put out. 

7 The steps of his strength shall be straightened, 
And his own counsel shall cast him down. 

8 For he is caught in a net by his own feet, 
And he walketh upon a snare. 

9 A gin shall take him by the heels, 
And a snare shall lay hold on him. 

10 A noose is hid for him in the ground, 

\iid a trap for him in the way. 
1 1 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, 
\nd shall chase him at his heels. 



The Book of Job. 41 

12 His strength shall be hunger-bitten, 

And calamity shall be ready for his halting. 

13 It shall devour the members of his body; 

Yea, the firstborn of death shall devour his strength. 

14 He. shall be rooted out of his tent wherein he trusted, 
And he shall be brought to the king of terrors. 

15 There shall dwell in his tent none of his: 
Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation. 

16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, 
And above shall his branch wither. 

17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, 
And he shall have no name in the street. 

18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, 
And chased from the world. 

19 He shall have neither son nor son's son among his people, 
Nor any remaining where he sojourned. 

20 They that come after shall be astonished at his day, 
As they that went before were affrighted. 

21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, 

And this is the place of him that knoweth not God. 

Job's Second Reply to Bildad. 
Chapter 19. 

1 Then Job answered and said: 

2 How long will ye vex my soul, 
And break me in pieces with words? 

3 These ten times have you reproached me: 

Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me. 

4 And be it indeed that I have erred, 
Mine error remaineth with myself. 

5 If ye will magnify yourselves against me, 
And plead against me my reproach; 



42 The Book of Job. 

6 Know that God hath overthrown me, 
And hath compassed me with his net. 

7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard : 
I cry for help, but there is no judgment. 

8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, 
And hath set darkness in my paths. 

9 He hath stripped me of my glory, 
And taken the crown from my head. 

10 He hath broken me down on every side, and I am gone ; 
And mine hope he hath plucked up like a tree. 

11 He also hath kindled his wrath against me, 

And he counteth me with him as one of his adversaries. 

12 His troops come on together, 
And cast up their way against me, 
And encamp round about my tent. 

13 He hath put my brethren far from me, 

And mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me. 

14 My kinsfolk have failed, 

And my familiar friends have forgotten me. 

15 They that sojourn in mine house, and my maids, count me 

for a stranger. 
I am an alien in their sight. 

16 I call unto my servant, and he giveth me no answer ; 
Though I entreat him with my mouth. 

17 My breath is strange to my wife, 

And I am loathsome to the children of my mother's womb. 
IS Even young children despise me; 

if 1 arise, they speak against me. 
\0 All my inward friends abhor me, 

\nd they whom I loved have turned against me. 
20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, 

And I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. 
2\ I lave pity upon me, have pity upon me, () ye my friends; 



The Book of Job. 43 

For the hand of God hath touched me. 

22 Why do ye persecute me as God, 
And are not satisfied with my flesh? 

23 Oh that my words were now written ! 
Oh that they were inscribed in a book ! 

24 That with an iron pen and lead 

They were graven in the rock for ever ! 

25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, 

And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; 

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, 
Yet from my flesh shall I see God: 

27 Whom I shall see for myself, 

And mine eyes shall behold, and not another ; 
Though my reins be consumed within me. 

28 But if ye should say, "How we will persecute him," 
Seeing that the root of the matter is found in me, 

29 Be ye afraid of the sword ; 

For wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, 
That ye may know there is a judgment. 

The Second Address of Zophar. 
Chapter 20. 

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said: 

2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, 
Even by reason of my haste that is within me. 

3 I have heard the reproach which putteth me to shame, 
And the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer. 

4 Knowest thou not this of old time, 
Since man was placed upon earth; 

5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, 
And the joy of the godless but for a moment? 

6 Though his excellency mounts up to the heavens, 



44 The Book of Job. 

And his head reach unto the clouds; 

7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung : 
They which have seen him shall say: "Where is he?" 

8 He shall fly away as a dream, 
And shall not be found: 

Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. 

9 The eye which saw him shall see him no more ; 
Neither shall his place any more behold him. 

10 His children shall seek to appease the poor, 
And his hands shall restore their goods. 

11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth; 
And it shall lie down with him in the dust. 

12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth; 
Though he hide it under his tongue ; 

13 Though he spare it, and will not let it go, 
But keep it still within his mouth : 

14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, 
It is the gall of asps within him. 

15 He hath swallowed down riches, 
And he shall vomit them up again : 
God shall cast them out of his belly. 

16 He shall suck the poison of asps : 
The viper's tongue shall slay him. 

17 He shall not look upon the rivers, 

The flowing streams of honey and butter. 

18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, 
And shall not swallow it down: 
According to the substance he hath gotten 
Shall the restitution be ; 

I le shall not rejoice therein. 
1 ( ) For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; 
I le hath violently taken away an house, 
And lie shall not build it up. 



The Book of Job. 45 

20 Because he knew no quietness within him, 

He shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth. 

21 There was nothing left that he devoured not; 
Therefore his prosperity shall not endure. 

22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits ; 
The hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon 

him. 

23 When he is about to fill his belly, 

God shall cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, 
And shall rain it upon him while he is eating. 

24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, 

And the bow of steel shall strike him through. 

25 He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body: 
Yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall: 
Terrors are upon him. 

26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures : 
A fire not blown shall consume him ; 

It shall consume that which is left in his tent. 

27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity ; 
And the earth shall rise up against him. 

28 The increase of his house shall depart; 

His goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. 

29 This is the portion of the wicked man from God, 
And the heritage appointed unto him by God. 

Job's Second Reply to Zophar. 
Chapter 21. 

1 But Job answered and said: 

2 Hear diligently my speech, 

And let this be your consolations. 

3 Suffer me, and I also will speak; 

And after that I have spoken, mock on. 



46 The Book of Job. 

4 As for me, is my complaint to a man? 
And why should I not be impatient? 

5 Mark me, and be astonished, 

And lay your hand upon your mouth ; 

6 Even when I remember I am troubled, 
And horror taketh hold upon my flesh. 

7 Wherefore do the wicked live, 
Become old, yea, wax mighty in power? 

8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, 
And their offspring before their eyes. 

9 Their houses are in peace, without fear, 
Neither is the rod of God upon them. 

10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; 
Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 

11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, 
And their children dance. 

12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, 
And rejoice at the sound of the pipe. 

13 They spend their days in prosperity, 

And in a moment they go down to the grave. 

14 Yet they said unto God, "Depart from us ; 
For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 

15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? 
And what profit should we have if we pray unto him 

16 Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: 
The counsel of the wicked is far from me. 

17 How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out; 
That their calamity cometh upon them ; 

That God distributed] sorrows in his anger! 
IS That they are as stubble before the wind. 

And as chad that the storm eanieth away! 
19 Ye say, "God layeth up the iniquity of his children; 

That he rewardeth him, and he shall know it." 



The Book of Job. 47 

20 His eyes shall see his destruction, 

And he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. 

21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, 
When the number of his months is cut off in the midst? 

22 Shall any teach God knowledge? 
Seeing he judgeth those that are high. 

23 One dieth in his full strength, 
Being wholly at his ease and quiet ; 

24 His breasts are full of milk, 

And his bones are moistened with marrow ; 

25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, 
And never tasteth of good. 

26 They lay down alike in the dust, 
And the worms shall cover them. 

27 Behold, I know your thoughts, 

And the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. 

28 For ye say, "Where is the house of the prince? 
And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?" 

29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? 
And do ye not know their tokens ? 

30 That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity ; 
That they are led forth to the day of wrath. 

31 Who shall declare his way to his face? 

And who shall repay him what he hath done? 

32 Yet shall he be borne to the grave, 
And shall remain in the tomb. 

33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, 
And all men shall draw after him, 

As there were innumerable before him. 

34 How then comfort ye me in vain, 

Seeing in your answers there remaineth only falsehood? 



48 The Book of Job. 

The Third Address of Eliphaz. 
Chapter 22. 

1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said : 

2 Can a man be profitable unto God? 

Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself. 

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous ? 
Or is it gain to him that thou makest thy ways perfect? 

4 Is it for thy fear of him that he reproveth thee; 
That he entereth with thee into judgment? 

5 Is not thy wickedness great, 

And is there any end to thine iniquities ? 

6 For thou hast taken pledge of thy brother for nought, 
And stripped the naked of their clothing. 

7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, 
And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. 

8 But as for the mighty man, he had the land ; 
And the honorable man, he dwelt in it. 

9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, 

And the arms of the fatherless have been broken. 

10 Therefore snares are round about thee, 
And sudden fear troubleth thee ; 

1 1 Or darkness, that thou canst not see. 
And abundance of waters cover thee. 

12 Is not God in the height of his heaven? 
And behold the stars, how high they are ! 

13 And thou sayest, "What doth God know? 
Can he judge through the thick darkness? 

14 Thick clouds arc a covering to him, that he seeth not; 
And he walketh in the circuit of heaven." 

15 I last thou marked the old way, which wicked men have 

trodden ; 

16 Who were cut off before their time, 



The Book of Job. 49 

Whose foundation was overflown with a flood? 

17 Who said unto God, "Depart from us;" 
And, "What can the Almighty do to us?" 

18 Yet he filled their houses with good things. 
(But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.) 

19 The righteous see it, and are glad; 
And the innocent laugh them to scorn; 

20 Saying, "Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, 
And the remnant of them fire hath consumed." 

21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace : 
Thereby shall good come unto thee. 

22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, 
And lay up his words in thine heart. 

23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up ; 
If thou put away iniquity far from thy tents, 

24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, 

And the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks ; 

25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy treasure, 
And thou shalt have plenty of silver. 

26 For then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, 
And shalt lift up thy face unto God. 

27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, 
And he shall hear thee, 

And thou shalt pay thy vows. 

28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, 
And it shall be established unto thee, 
And light shall shine upon thy ways. 

29 When men cast thee down, thou shalt say, 
"There is lifting up;" 

And the humble person he shall save. 

30 He shall deliver him that is innocent ; 

Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of his 
hands. 



50 The Book of Job. 

Job's Third Reply to Eliphaz. 
Chapter 23. 

1 Then answered Job and said : 

2 Even to-day is my complaint bitter ; 
My stroke is heavier than my groaning. 

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him ! 
That I might even come to his seat ! 

4 I would order my cause before him, 
And fill my mouth with arguments. 

5 I would know the words which he would answer me, 
And understand what he would say unto me. 

6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? 
Nay ; he would give heed unto me. 

7 There the upright might reason with him ; 

So should I be delivered for ever from my judge. 

8 Behold, I go forward ; but he is not there : 
And backward ; but I cannot perceive him : 

9 On the left hand, where he doth work ; 
But I cannot behold him : 

He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see 
him. 

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: 

When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 

11 My foot hath held fast to his steps; 

His way have I kept, and not turned aside. 

12 I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; 

I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than 
my necessary food. 

13 I hit he is in one mind, and who can turn him? 
And what his soul desireth, even that lie doeth. 

14 For he pcrformeth that which is appointed for me; 
And many such things are with him. 



The Book of Job. 51 

15 Therefore I am troubled at his presence; 
When I consider, I am afraid of him. 

16 For God hath made my heart faint, 
And the Almighty hath troubled me : 

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, 
Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face. 

Chapter 24. 

1 Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, 
Do they that know him not see his days ? 

2 There are those that remove the landmarks ; 
They violently take away flocks and feed thereon ; 

3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless; 
They take the widow's ox for a pledge ; 

4 They turn the needy out of the way: 

The poor of the earth hide themselves together. 

5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert they go forth to their 

work, 
Seeking diligently for meat: 
The wilderness yieldeth them food for their children. 

6 They cut their provender in his field, 
And they glean the vintage of the wicked. 

7 They lie all night naked, without clothing, 
And they have no covering in the cold. 

8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, 
And embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 

9 There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, 
And take a pledge of the poor ; 

10 So that they go about naked without clothing, 
And being a-hungered they carry the sheaves. 

1 1 They make oil within the walls of these men ; 
They tread their wine-presses, and suffer thirst. 

12 They groan from out of the populous city, 
And the soul of the wounded crieth out: 



52 The Book of Job. 

Yet God imputeth not folly to them. 

13 They are of those that rebel against the light; 

They know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths 
thereof. 

14 The murderer riseth with the light; 
He killeth the poor and needy ; 
And in the night he is as a thief. 

15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, 
Saying, "No eye shall see me :" 

He disguiseth his face. 

16 In the dark they dig through houses ; 
They shut themselves up in the daytime ; 
They know not the light. 

17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death; 
For they know the terrors of the shadow of death. 

18 He is swift upon the face of the waters ; 
Their portion is cursed in the earth : 

He turneth not by the way of the vineyards. 

19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters ; 
So doth the grave those which have sinned. 

20 The womb shall forget him ; 

The worm shall feed sweetly on him ; 

He shall be no more remembered ; 

And wickedness shall be broken as a tree. 

21 He evil entreateth the barren that bearcth not, 
And doeth not good to the widow. 

22 He draweth away the mighty with his power: 
I [e riseth up, and no man is sure of life. 

23 Though it be given them to be in security and to rest 

thereon, 
Yet the eyes of the Almighty are upon their ways. 

24 They are exalted for a little while; 
Then they are gone, they are brought low, 



The Book of Job. 53 

They are taken out of the way as all other, 
And are cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. 
25 And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, 
And make my speech nothing worth? 

The Third Address of Bildad. 
Chapter 25. 

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said : 

2 Dominion and fear are with him ; 

He maketh his peace in his high places. 

3 Is there any number of his armies? 

And upon whom doth not his light arise? 

4 How then can man be just with God? 

Or, how can he be clean that is born of a woman ? 

5 Behold, even the moon hath no brightness, 
And the stars are not pure in his sight. 

6 How much less man, that is a worm ! 
And the son of man, which is a worm ! 

Job's Third Reply to Bildad. 
Chapter 26. 

1 But Job answered and said : 

2 How hast thou helped him that is without power ! 
How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength ! 

3 How hast thou counseled him that hath no wisdom ! 

And how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is ! 

4 To whom hast thou uttered words? 
And whose spirit came forth from thee? 

5 Dead things tremble beneath the waters and the inhabi- 

tants thereof ; 

6 The grave is naked before him, 



54 The Book of Job. 

And Abaddon hath no covering. 

7 He stretcheth out the north over empty space, 
And hangeth the earth upon nothing. 

8 He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds, 
And the cloud is not rent under them. 

9 He closeth in the face of his throne, 
And spreadeth his cloud upon it. 

10 He hath compassed the face of the waters with boundaries, 
Unto the confines of light and darkness. 

1 1 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his 

rebuke. 

12 He stirreth up the sea with his power, 

And by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. 

13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; 
His hand hath pierced the swift Serpent. 

14 Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways ; 
And how small a portion of them do we hear. 

But the thundering of his power who can understand? 

Job Continues His Parable. 
Chapter 27. 

1 And Job again took up his parable, and said : 

2 As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment, 
And the Almighty, who hath made my soul bitter, 

3 ( For my life is yet whole within me, 
And the breath of God is in my nostrils.) 

4 My lips shall not speak unrighteousness, 
Neither shall my tongue utter deceit. 

5 God forbid that I should justify you: 

Till I die I will not put away mine integrity from me. 

6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; 
My heart doth not reproach me for any of my days. 



The Book of Job. 55 

7 Let mine enemy be as the wicked, 

And let him that riseth up against me be as the unright- 
eous. 

8 For what is the hope of the godless, even though he hath 

gained, 
When God taketh away his soul? 

9 Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? 

10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? 
Will he always call upon God? 

11 I will teach you concerning the hand of God; 

That which is with the Almighty will I not conceal. 

12 Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it : 
Why then are ye become altogether vain? 

13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, 
And the heritage of oppressors, 

Which they receive from the Almighty. 

14 If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword : 
And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. 

15 Those that remain of him shall be buried in death, 
And his widows shall make no lamentation. 

16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, 
And prepare raiment as the clay; 

17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, 
And the innocent shall divide the silver. 

18 He buildeth his house as the moth, 

And as the booth which the keeper maketh. 

19 He lieth down a rich man, 

But his gathering together shall be no more ; 
He openeth his eyes, and he is not. 

20 Terrors take hold upon him as waters ; 

A tempest stealeth him away in the night. 

21 The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth ; 
As a storm it sweepeth him out of his place. 



56 The Book of Job. 

11 Kor God shall hurl at him, and not spare : 

He would fain flee out of his hand. 
23 Men shall clap their hands at him, 

And shall hiss him out of his place. 
Chapter 28. 

1 Surely there is a vein for silver, 

And a place for gold, which they refine. 

2 Iron is taken out of the earth, 
And brass is molten out of the stone. 

3 Man setteth an end to darkness, 

And searcheth out to the furthest bound : 

The stones of thick darkness and of the shadow of death. 

4 He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn; 
They are forgotten of the foot that passeth by; 

They hang afar from men, 
They swing to and fro. 

5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread ; 

And underneath it is turned up as it were by fire. 

6 The stones thereof are the place of sapphires. 
And it hath dust of gold. 

7 There is a path which no bird of prey knoweth. 
And which the vulture's eye hath not seen. 

<S The proud beasts have not trodden it, 
Nor hath the fierce lion passed thereby. 

9 He putteth his hand upon the flinty rock ; 

I Ic overturneth the mountain by the roots. 

10 lie cutteth out channels among the rocks. 
And his eye sccth every precious thing. 

11 lie bindeth the streams that they overflow not. 
And the thing that is hid bringeth forth to light. 

12 But where shall wisdom be found? 

And where is the place of understanding? 

13 .Man knoweth not the price thereof; 



The Book of Job. 57 

Neither is it found in the land of the living. 

14 The deep saith, "It is not in me;" 
And the sea saith, "It is not in me ;" 

15 It cannot be gotten for gold, 

Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. 

16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, 
With the precious onyx, or the sapphire. 

17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it; 

Neither shall the exchange thereof be for jewels of fine 
gold. 

18 No mention shall be made of coral or of pearls ; 
Yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies. 

19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, 
Neither shall it be valued with pure gold. 

20 Whence then cometh wisdom? 

Or where is the place of understanding? 

21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, 
And is kept close from the fowls of the air. 

22 Destruction and death say, 

"We have heard the fame thereof with our ears." 

23 God understandeth the way thereof, 
And he knoweth the place thereof. 

24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, 
And seeth under the whole heaven; 

25 To make the weight for the wind ; 

Yea, he meteth out the waters by measure. 

26 When he made a decree for the rain, 

And a way for the lightning of the thunder, 

27 Then did he see it, and declare it ; 

He prepared it, yea, and searched it out. 

28 And unto man he said, 

"Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; 
And to depart from evil is understanding." 



58 The Book of Job. 

Job Continueth his Parable. 
Chapter 29. 

1 Moreover, Job again took up his parable, and said : 

2 Oh that I were as in the months of old, 

As in the days when God watched over me ; 

3 When his lamp shined upon my head, 

And by his light I walked through darkness ; 

4 As in the ripeness of my days, 

When the secret of God was upon my tent; 

5 When the Almighty was yet with me, 
And my children were about me ; 

6 When my steps were washed with butter, 
And the rock poured me out rivers of oil ! 

7 When I went forth to the gate unto the city, 
When I prepared my seat in the street. 

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, 
And the aged rose up and honored me. 

9 The princes refrained from talking, 
And laid their hand on their mouth ; 

10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, 

And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 

1 1 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me ; 

And when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me : 

12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, 

The fatherless also, and him that had none to help him. 

13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon 

me ; 
And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 

14 T put on righteousness, and it clothed me; 
My justice was as a robe and a diadem. 

1 5 I was eyes to the blind, 
And feet was I to the lame. 



The Book of Job. 59 

16 I was a father to the needy, 

And the cause of him I knew not I searched out. 

17 And I break the jaws of the unrighteous, 
And plucked the prey out of his teeth. 

18 Then I said, "I shall die in my nest, 

And I shall multiply my days as the sand." 

19 My root was spread out by the waters, 
And the dew lay all night upon my branch. 

20 My glory was fresh in me, 

And my bow was renewed in my hand. 

21 Unto me men gave ear and waited, 
And kept silence for my counsel. 

22 After my words they spake not again, 
And my speech dropped upon them; 

23 And they waited for me as for the rain, 

And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 

24 If I laughed on them, they were not confident, 

And the light of my countenance they cast not down. 

25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief, 
And dwelt as a king in the army, 

As one that comforteth the mourners. 
Chapter 30. 

1 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, 
Whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs 

of my flock. 

2 Yea, whereto should the strength of their hands profit me, 
In whom ripe age is perished? 

3 They are gaunt with want and famine; 

They flee into the wilderness, in time of waste and desola- 
tion. 

4 They pluck salt-wort by the bushes, 

And the roots of the broom are their meat, 

5 They are driven forth from the midst of men ; 



60 The Book of Job. 

Who cry after them as after a thief. 

6 In the clefts of the valleys they must dwell, 
In the caves of the earth and of the rocks. 

7 Among the bushes they bray ; 

Under the wild vetches they are gathered together. 

8 They are children of fools ; 

Yea, children of men of no name : 
They were scourged out of the land. 

9 And now I am become their song; 
Yea, I am a byword unto them. 

10 They abhor me ; they stand aloof from me, 
And spare not to spit in my face. 

11 Because he hath loosed his bowstring and afflicted me: 
They have also let loose the bridle before me. 

12 Upon my right hand arise the rabble; 
They thrust aside my feet, 

And they cast against me their ways of destruction. 

13 They mar my path, 

They set forward my calamity, 
Even men that have no helper. 

14 They come as a wide breaking of waters; 

In the midst of ruin they roll themselves upon me. 

1 5 Terrors are turned upon me ; 
They pursue mine honor. 

And my welfare is passed away as a cloud. 

16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; 
Days of affliction have taken hold upon me. 

17 In the night season my bones are pierced, 
And the pains that gnaw me take no rest. 

18 l>y the great force of my disease is my garment changed; 
It bindeth me about as the collar of my coat. 

1 ( J He hath cast me in the mire. 

And I am become like dust and ashes. 



The Book of Job. 61 

20 I cry unto thee, and thou dost not answer me ; 
I stand up and thou regardest me not. 

21 Thou art become cruel to me ; 

With thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me. 

22 Thou liftest me up to the wind ; 
Thou causest me to ride upon it, 
And thou dissolvest me in the storm. 

23 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, 
And to the house appointed for all living. 

24 H'owbeit, he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, 
Though one may utter a cry in his destruction. 

25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? 
Was not my soul grieved for the needy? 

26 When I looked for good, then came evil; 

And when I waited for light, there came darkness. 

27 My bowels boiled and rested not ; 
The days of affliction prevented me. 

28 I go mourning without the sun : 

I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help. 

29 I am brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches. 

30 My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with 

heat. 

31 Therefore is my harp turned to mourning, 
And my pipe into the voice of them that weep. 

Chapter 31. 

1 I made a covenant with mine eyes : 
How then should I look upon a maid? 

2 For what portion should I have of God from above, 
And what heritage of the Almighty from on high? 

3 Is not calamity for the wicked, 

And disaster for the workers of iniquity? 

4 Doth not he see my ways, and number all my steps? 

5 If I have walked with vanity, 



62 The Book of Job. 

Or if my foot hath hasted to deceit — 

6 (Let me be weighed in an even balance, 
That God may know mine integrity) ; — 

7 If my step hath turned out of the way, 
And mine heart walked after mine eyes ; 
And if any spot hath cleaved to mine hands ; 

8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; 

Yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out. 

9 If mine heart hath been enticed unto a woman, 
Or if I have laid wait at my neighbor's door ; 

10 Then let my wife grind unto another, 
And let others bow down upon her. 

1 1 For that were a heinous crime ; 

Yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judge. 

12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, 
And would root out all mine increase. 

13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant. 

Or of my maidservant, when they contended with me, 

14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? 

And when he visiteth me, what shall I answer him? 

15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? 
And did not one fashion us in the womb? 

16 If I have withheld from the poor their desire, 
Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, 

17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, 
And the fatherless have not eaten thereof — 

18 (Nay; from my youth he grew up with me, as with a 

father, 

And 1 have been her guide from my mother's womb) ; — 
1 ( ) If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, 

( )r that the needy had no covering ; 
20 Tf his loins have not blessed me, 

And if hv were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; 



The Book of Job. 63 

21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless 
Because I saw my help in the gate; 

22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, 
And mine arm be broken from the bone. 

23 For calamity from God was a terror to me, 

And by reason of his awfulness I could do nothing. 

24 If I have made gold my hope, 

And said to fine gold, "Thou art my confidence ;" 

25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, 
And because mine hand had gotten much ; 

26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, 
Or the moon walking in darkness, 

27 And my heart hath been enticed 
And my mouth hath kissed my hand; 

28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge, 
For I should have denied the God that is above. 

29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, 
Or lifted up myself when evil found him — 

30 (Yea, I suffered not my mouth to sin by wishing a curse 

to his soul) ; — 

31 If the men of my tent said not, 

"Who can find one that hath not been satisfied with his 
flesh?" 

32 The stranger did not lodge upon the street, 
And I opened my doors to the traveler. 

33 If, like Adam, I covered my transgression, 
By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom — 

34 Because I feared the great multitude 
And the contempt of families terrified me, 
That I kept silence and went not out the door. 

35 Oh, that I had one to hear me ! 

(Lo, here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me) ; 
And that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath 
written ; 



64 The Book of Job. 

36 Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder, 
And would bind it unto me as a crown ! 

37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps ; 
As a prince would I go near unto him. 

38 If my land cry out against me, 
Or the furrows thereof complain ; 

39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, 
Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life : 

40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat. 
And noisome weeds instead of barley. 

The words of Job are ended. 

Elihu, the Buzite, enters the discussion. 
Chapter 32. 

1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was 

2 righteous in his own eyes. Then was kindled the wrath 
of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of 
Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justi- 

3 fied himself rather than God. Also against his three 
friends was his wrath kindled because they had found no 

4 answer, and yet had condemned Job. Now Elihu had 
waited to speak unto Job, because they were older than he. 

5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth 

6 of these three men his wrath was kindled. And Elihu the 
son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said : 

I am young, and ye are very old ; 

Wherefore I was afraid, and durst not show you mine 
opinion. 

7 1 said, "Days should speak, 

And multitude of years should teach wisdom." 
S But there is a spirit in man, 



The Book of Job. 65 

And the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them under- 
standing. 

9 Great men are not always wise, 

Nor do the aged necessarily understand judgment. 

10 Therefore I said, "Hearken to me; 
I also will show my opinion." 

1 1 Behold, I waited for your words ; 
I listened for your reasons, 
Whilst ye searched out what to say. 

12 Yea, I attended unto you, 

And, behold, there was none that convinced Job, 
Or that answered his words, among you. 

13 Beware, lest ye say: "We have found wisdom: 
God thrusteth him down — not man." 

14 Now he hath not directed his words against me ; 
Neither will I answer him with your speeches. 

15 They are amazed; they answer no more; 
They have not a word to say. 

16 And shall I wait because they speak not, 
But stand still and answer no more? 

17 I also will answer my part; 

I also will show mine opinion. 

18 For I am full of matter; 

The spirit within me constraineth me. 

19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; 
Like new bottles, it is ready to burst. 

20 I will speak, that I may find relief ; 
I will open my lips and answer. 

21 Let me not, I pray you, respect any man's person; 
Neither will I give flattering titles unto any. 

22 For I know not to give flattering titles. 
Else would my Maker soon take me away. 



66 The Book of Job. 

Chapter 33. 

1 H'owbeit, Job, I pray thee, 

Hear my speech, and hearken to all my words. 

2 Behold now, I have opened my mouth, 
My tongue hath spoken in my mouth. 

3 My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart, 
And my lips they shall speak sincerely. 

4 The spirit of God hath made me, 

And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life. 

5 If thou canst, answer thou me; 

Set thy words in order before me ; stand forth. 

6 Behold, as thou hast said, 

I am toward God even as thou art: 
I also am formed out of the clay. 

7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, 
Neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. 

8 Surely, thou hast spoken in mine hearing, 

And I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, 

9 "I am clean, without transgression ; 

I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me. 

10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, 
He counteth me for his enemy ; 

1 1 He putteth my feet in the stocks ; 
He marketh all my paths." 

12 Behold, I will answer thee: 
In this thou art not just; 

For God is greater than man. 

13 Why dost thou strive against him? 

For he giveth no account of any of his matters. 

14 For God spcaketh once, yea twice, 
Though man perceiveth it not. 

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night. 
When deep sleep fallcth upon men, 
In slumbcrings upon the bed; 



The Book of Job. 67 

16 Then he openeth the ears of men, 
And sealeth their instruction, 

17 That he may persuade man from his purposes, 
And that he may keep pride from man. 

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, 
And his life from perishing by the sword. 

19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, 
With a multitude of strong pains in his bones ; 

20 So that his life abhoreth bread, 
And his soul dainty meat. 

21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; 
And his bones that were not seen, stick out. 

22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, 
And his life to the destroyers. 

23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, 
One among a thousand, 

To show unto man what is right for him ; 

24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, 
"Deliver him from going down into the pit: 
I have found a ransom." 

25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's ; 
He returneth to the days of his youth. 

26 He shall pray unto God, 

And he will be favorable unto him; 

So that he seeth his face with joy; 

For he restoreth unto man his righteousness. 

27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, 

"I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, 
And it profited me not;" 

28 He will deliver his soul from going down into the pit, 
And his life shall behold the light. 

29 Lo, all these things doth God work, 
Twice, yea thrice, with a man, 



68 The Book of Job. 

30 To bring back his soul from the pit, 

That he may be enlightened with the light of life. 

31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me; 
Hold thy peace, and I will speak. 

32 If thou hast anything to say, answer me ; 
Speak, for I desire to justify thee. 

33 If not, hearken thou unto me: 

Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom. 

Chapter 34. 

1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said : 

2 Hear my words, ye wise men ; 

And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 

3 For the ear trieth words, 
As the mouth tasteth meat. 

4 Let us choose for us that which is right; 
Let us know among ourselves what is good. 

5 For Job hath said, "I am righteous, 
And God hath taken away my right. 

6 Nothwithstanding my right, I am accounted a liar. 

My wound is incurable, though I am without transgres- 
sion." 

7 What man is like Job, 

Who drinketh up scorning like water? 

8 Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, 
And walketh with wicked men. 

9 For he hath said, "It profiteth a man nothing 
That he should delight himself with God.'' 

10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: 
Far be it from God that he should do wickedness ; 

And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. 

11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, 



The Book of Job. 69 

And cause every man to find according to his ways. 

12 Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, 
Neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. 

13 Who gave him a charge over the earth? 
Or who hath disposed of the whole world ? 

14 If he set his heart upon man, 

If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath, 

15 All flesh shall perish together, 
And man shall turn again unto dust. 

16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: 
Hearken to the voice of my words. 

17 Shall even one that hateth right govern? 

And wilt thou condemn him that is just and mighty? 

18 Is it fitting to say to a king, "Thou art wicked" ? 
Or to nobles, "Ye are ungodly"? 

19 How much less to him that respecteth not the persons of 

princes, 
Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor ? 
For they are all the work of his hands. 

20 In a moment they die, even at midnight, and pass away, 
And the mighty are taken away without hand. 

21 For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, 
And he seeth all his goings. 

22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, 
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 

23 For he will not lay upon man more than is right, 
That he should go before God into judgment. 

24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men, 
In ways past finding out, 

And setteth others in their stead. 

25 Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; 
And he overturneth them in the night, 

So that they are destroyed. 



70 The Book of Job. 

26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others ; 

27 Because they turned aside from following him. 
And would not have regard to any of his ways ; 

28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, 
And he heard the cry of the afflicted. 

29 When he giveth quietness, who can make trouble? 
And when he hideth his face, who can behold him? 
Whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man. 

30 That the godless man reign not ; 

That there be none to ensnare the people. 

31 Surely it is meet to say unto God, 

"I have borne chastisement; I will not offend any more: 

32 That which I see not teach thou me ; 

If I have done inquity, I will do it no more." 

33 Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, 
That thou refusest it? 

For thou must choose, and not I : 
Therefore speak what thou knowest. 

34 Men of understanding will say unto me, 
Yea, every wise man that heareth me, 

35 "Job speaketh without knowledge, 
And his words are without wisdom." 

36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end, 
Because that he answered like unto wicked men ; 

37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, 
He clappeth his hands among us, 

And multiplieth his words against God. 

Chapter 35. 

1 Elihu spake moreover, and said : 

2 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, 
"My righteousness is more than God's?" 



The Book of Job. 71 

3 For thou saidst, 

"What advantage will it be unto thee?" 

And, "What profit shall I have more than if I had sinned?" 

4 I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. 

5 Look unto the heavens and see, 

And behold the skies which are higher than thou. 

6 If thou hast sinned, what doest thou against him? 
Or if thy transgressions be multiplied, 

What doest thou unto him ? 

7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? 
Or what receivest he of thine hand? 

8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art, 
And thy righteousness may profit a son of man. 

9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions 
They make the oppressed to cry out ; 

They cry for help because of the arm of the mighty. 

10 But none saith, "Where is God my Maker, 
Who giveth songs in the night; 

11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, 
And maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?" 

12 There they cry ; but none giveth answer, 
Because of the pride of evil men. 

13 Surely God will not hear vanity, 
Neither will the Almighty regard it; 

14 How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not — 
The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him. 

15 But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, 
Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance, 

16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity ; 
He multiplieth words without knowledge. 



72 The Book of Job. 

Chapter 36. 

1 Elihu also proceeded, and said : 

2 Suffer me a little, and I will show thee ; 

For I have yet somewhat to say on God's behalf. 

3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, 
And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 

4 For truly my words are not false; 

One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. 

5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any : 
He is mighty in strength and understanding. 

6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked : 
But giveth to the afflicted their right. 

7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: 
But with kings are they upon the throne ; 

Yea, he setteth them up for ever, and they are established. 

8 And if they be bound in fetters, 

And be taken in the cords of affliction, 

9 Then he showeth them their work 
And their transgressions, 

That they have behaved themselves proudly. 

10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, 

And commandeth that they return from iniquity. 

11 If they hearken and serve him, 

They shall spend their days in prosperity, 
And their years in pleasantness: 

12 But if they hearken not, 

They shall perish by the sword, 
And they shall die without knowledge. 

13 But they that are godless in heart heap up wrath: 
They cry not for help when he bindeth them. 

14 They die in youth, 

And their life perisheth among the unclean. 



The Book of Job. 73 

15 He delivereth the poor by his affliction, 
And openeth their ears by adversity. 

16 Even so he would have led thee out of distress into a 

broad place, 
Where there is no straitness ; 
And that which should be set on thy table 
Should be full of fatness. 

17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: 
Judgment and justice take hold on thee. 

18 Because there is wrath, 

Beware, lest thou be taken away with his stroke ; 
Then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. 

19 Will he esteem thy riches? 

No ; neither gold nor all the forces of thy strength. 

20 Desire not the night, 

When people are cut off in their place. 

21 Take heed : regard not iniquity ; 

For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. 

22 Behold, God doth loftily in his power : 
Who is a teacher like unto him? 

23 Who hath enjoined him his way? 

Or who can say, "Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?" 

24 Remember that thou magnify his work, 
Of which men have sung. 

25 All men may look thereon; 
Man beholdeth it afar off. 

26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not ; 
The number of his years cannot be searched out. 

27 For he draweth up the drops of water : 

They pour down in rain according to the vapor thereof : 

28 Which from the clouds do drop 
And distil upon man abundantly. 

29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, 
Or the thunderings of his pavilion? 



74 The Book of Job. 

30 Behold he spreadeth his lightning thereon, 
And it covereth the bottom of the sea. 

31 For by these judgeth he the peoples; 
He giveth meat in abundance. 

32 With clouds he covereth the lightning; 

He giveth it a charge, and it striketh the mark. 

33 The noise thereof telleth of him ; 

The cattle also, concerning the storm that cometh up. 
Chapter 37. 

1 At this also my heart trembleth, 
And is moved out of its place. 

2 Hearken ye unto the noise of his voice, 

And the muttering that goeth out of his mouth. 

3 He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, 
And his lightning unto the ends of the earth. 

4 After it a voice roareth ; 

He thundereth with the voice of his majesty, 
And stayeth them not when his voice is heard. 

5 God thundereth marvelously with his voice ; 

Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. 

6 For he saith to the snow, "Fall thou on the earth ;" 
Likewise to the shower of rain, 

And to the pouring of his mighty rain. 

7 He sealeth up the hand of every man, 

That all men whom he hath made may know his work. 

8 Then the beasts go into their coverts, 
And remain in their dens. 

{ ) ( )ut of the chambers of the south cometh the whirlwind, 
And the cold out of the north. 

10 By the breath of God ice is given, 

And the breadth of the waters is congealed. 

11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud; 
lie spreadeth abroad the cloud of brightness: 



The Book of Job. 75 

12 And it is turned round about by his guidance, 
That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them 
Upon the face of the habitable world. 

13 He causeth it to come, 
Whether it be for correction, 
Or for the soil of the earth, 
Or for mercy. 

14 Hearken unto this, O Job; 

Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 

15 Dost thou know how God layeth his charge upon them, 
And causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine ? 

16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, 

The wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowl- 
edge? 

17 How thy garments are warm, 

When the earth is still by reason of the south wind? 

18 Canst thou with him spread out the sky, 
Which is strong, and as a molten looking glass? 

19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; 

For we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. 

20 Shall it be told him that I would speak? 

Surely, if a man speak, he shall be swallowed up ! 

21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the 

clouds ; 
But the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. 

22 Out of the north cometh golden splendour : 
God there hath upon him terrible majesty. 

23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out; 
He is excellent in power; 

And in judgment, and in plenty of justice; 
He will not afflict. 

24 Men do therefore fear him : 

He respecteth not any that are wise of heart. 



76 The Book of Job. 

The Voice of the Almighty is heard in the controversy. 
Chapter 38. 

1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and 

said : 

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without 

knowledge? 

3 Gird up thy loins now like a man ; 
For I will demand of thee, 

And answer thou unto me. 

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? 
Declare, if thou hast understanding. 

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? 
Or who stretched the line upon it? 

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? 
Or who laid the corner-stone thereof, 

7 When the morning stars sang together, 
And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 

8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, 

When it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 

9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof. 
And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it, 

10 And prescribed for it my decree, 
And set bars and doors, and said, 

11 ''Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; 
And here shall thy proud waves be stayed?" 

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days began; 
And caused the dayspring to know its place ; 

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth. 
And that the wicked might be shaken out of it ? 

14 It is changed as clay under the seal. 

And all things stand forth as in a garment. 

15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, 
And the high arm is broken. 



The Book of Job. 77 

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? 
Or hast thou walked in the recesses of its depths? 

17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? 

Or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 

18 Hast thou comprehended the breadth of the earth? 
Declare, if thou knowest it all. 

19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? 
And as for darkness, where is the place thereof? 

20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, 

And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house 
thereof ? 

21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born, 
And because the number of thy days is great? 

22 Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, 
Or hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail? 

23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, 
Against the day of battle and war. 

24 By what way is the light parted, 

Or the east wind scattered upon the earth ? 

25 Who hath cleft a channel for the water-flood, 
Or a way for the lightning of the thunder? 

26 To cause it to rain on a land where no man is ; 
On the wilderness, wherein there is no man ; 

27 To satisfy the waste and desolate ground, 
And to cause the tender grass to spring forth? 

28 Hath the rain a father? 

Or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 

29 Out of whose womb came the ice? 

And the hoary frost of heaven, who gendered it? 

30 The waters are hidden as with a stone, 
And the face of the deep is frozen. 

31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades, 
Or loose the bands of Orion ? 



78 The Book of Job. 

32 Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? 
Or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? 

33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? 

Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth? 

34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, 
That abundance of waters may cover thee? 

35 Canst thou send forth lightnings, 
That they may go, and say unto thee, 
"Here are we"? 

36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts, 
Or given understanding to the mind? 

37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? 
Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, 

38 When the dust groweth into hardness 
And the clods cleave fast together? 

39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lioness, 
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lion, 

40 When they couch in their dens, 

And abide in the covert to lie in wait? 

41 Who provideth for the raven his food, 
When his young ones cry unto God, 
And they wander for lack of meat? 

Chapter 39. 

1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock; 

bring forth ? 
Or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? 

2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfill? 

( )r knowest thou the time when they bring forth? 

3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, 
They cast out their sorrows. 

4 Their young ones are in good liking, 
They grow up in the open field; 

They go forth, and return not unto them. 



The Book of Job. 79 

5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? 

Or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? 

6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, 
And barren land his dwelling place. 

7 He scorneth the tumult of the city, 

Neither regardeth he the shouting of the driver. 

8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, 
And he searcheth after every green thing. 

9 Will the wild-ox be content to serve thee, 
Or abide by thy crib? 

10 Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow? 
Or will he harrow the valleys after thee? 

11 Wilt thou trust him because his strength is great? 
Or wilt thou leave thy labor to him? 

12 Wilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy seed, 
And gather it into thy barn? 

13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? 
Or pinions and feathers unto the ostrich, 

14' Which leaveth her eggs on the earth 
And warmeth them in the sand, 

15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, 
Or that the wild beast may trample them? 

16 She is hardened against her young ones, 
As though they were not hers ; 

Though her labor be in vain she is without fear; 

17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, 
Neither hath he imparted to her understanding. 

18 What time she lifteth herself up for flight 
She scorneth the horse and his rider. 

19 Hast thou given the horse his strength? 

Hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane? 

20 Hast thou made him to leap as a grasshopper? 
The glory of his snorting is terrible ; 



80 The Book of Job. 

21 He paweth the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength ; 
He goeth out to meet the armed men ; 

22 He mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed ; 
Neither turneth he back from the sword. 

23 The quiver rattleth against him, 
The glittering spear and the javelin. 

24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage ; 
Neither standeth he still at the sound of the trumpet. 

25 As oft as the trumpet soundeth, he saith, "Ha, ha ;" 
He smelleth the battle afar ofT, 

The thunder of the captains, and the shouting. 

26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, 

And stretch her wings toward the south? 

27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, 
And make her nest on high? 

28 She dwelleth on the rock, 
And hath her lodging there, 

Upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. 

29 From thence she spieth out the prey ; 
Her eyes behold afar off. 

30 Her young ones also suck up blood ; 
And where the slain are, there is she. 

Chapter 40. 

1 Moreover, the Lord answereth Job, and said : 

2 Shall he that cavileth contend with the Almighty? 
He that argueth with God, let him answer it. 

Job humbleth himself before Cod. 

3 Then Job answered the Lord, and said : 

4 Behold, I am of small account ; 
What shall I answer thee? 



The Book of Job. 81 

I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. 

5 Once have I spoken ; now I will not answer : 
Yea twice, but I will proceed no further. 

The Lord answers Job out of the Whirlwind. 

6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and 

said: 

7 Gird up thy loins now like a man : 

I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 

8 Wilt thou even disannul my judgment? 

Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified? 

9 Hast thou an arm like God? 

Or canst thou thunder with a voice like him ? 

10 Deck thyself now with honour and majesty, 
And array thyself with glory and beauty. 

11 Pour forth the overflowing of thine anger; 

And look upon every one that is proud and abase him. 

12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low ; 
And tread down the wicked where they stand. 

13 Hide them in the dust together; 
Bind their faces in the hidden place. 

14 Then will I also confess of thee 

That thine own right hand can save thee. 

15 Behold now the behemoth, which I made with thee; 
He eateth grass as an ox. 

16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, 

And his force is in the muscles of his belly. 

17 He moveth his tail like a cedar; 

The sinews of his thighs are knit together. 

18 His bones are as tubes of brass; 
His limbs are like bars of iron. 



82 The Book of Job. 

19 He is the chief of the ways of God ; 

He only that made him can make his sword to approach 
unto him. 

20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, 
Where all the beasts of the field do play. 

21 He lieth under the lotus trees, 

In the covert of the reed and the fen. 

22 The lotus trees cover him with their shadow ; 
The willows of the brook compass him about. 

23 Behold, if a river overflow he trembleth not : 

He is confident, though Jordan swell even to his mouth. 

24 Shall any take him when he is on the watch, 
Or pierce through his nose with a snare? 

Chapter 41. 

1 Canst thou draw out the leviathan with a fish hook? 
Or press down his tongue with a cord? 

2 Canst thou put a rope in his nose, 

Or pierce his jaw through with a hook? 

3 Will he make supplications unto thee ? 
Will he speak soft words unto thee? 

4 Will he make a covenant with thee, 

That thou shouldst take him for a servant for ever? 

5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? 
Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 

6 Shall the bands of fishermen make traffic of him ? 
Shall they part him among the merchants? 

7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, 
Or his head with fish spears? 

8 Lay thine hand upon him ; 
Remember the battle, and do so no more. 

9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain : 

Shall not one be cast down even at sight of him? 

10 None is so fierce that he dare stir him up. 



The Book of Job. 83 

Who then is he that can stand before me? 

11 Who hath first given unto me, that I should repay him? 
Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 

12 I will not hesitate to speak concerning his limbs, 
Nor his mighty strength, nor his comely proportion. 

13 Who can strip off his outer garment? 
Who shall come within his double bridle? 

14 Who can open the doors of his face? 
Round about his teeth is terror. 

15 His strong scales are his pride, 
Shut up together as with a close seal. 

16 One is so near to another that no air can come between 

them. 

17 They are joined one to another; 

They stick together, that they cannot be sundered. 

18 His neesings flash forth light, 

And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 

19 Out of his mouth go burning torches, 
And sparks of fire leap forth. 

20 Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, 

As of a seething pot and burning rushes. 

21 His breath kindleth coals, 

And a fire goeth forth from his mouth. 

22 In his neck abideth strength, 
And terror danceth before him. 

23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: 
They are firm upon him ; they cannot be moved. 

24 His heart is as firm as a stone ; 
Yea as hard as the nether millstone. 

25 When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid : 

By reason of consternation they are beside themselves. 

26 If one lay at him with the sword, it cannot avail ; 
Nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft. 



84' The Book of Job. 

27 I le esteemcth iron as straw. 
And brass as rotten wood. 

28 The arrow cannot make him flee ; 
Slingstones are turned with him into stubble ; 

29 Clubs are counted as stubble ; 

He laugheth at the rushing of the javelin, 

30 His underparts are like sharp potsherds : 

He spreadeth as it were a threshing waim upon the mire. 

31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; 
He maketh the sea like ointment. 

32 He maketh a path to shine after him ; 
One would think the deep to be hoary. 

33 Upon the earth there is not his like, that is made without 

fear. 
34' He beholdeth everything that is high ; 
He is king over all the children of pride. 

Job submitteth himself unto God. 
Chapter 42. 

1 Then Job answered the Lord, and said : 

2 I know that thou canst do all things. 

And that no purpose of thine can be restrained. 

3 Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? 
Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, 
Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 

4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak ; 

i will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 

5 I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear ; 
But now mine eye seeth thee; 

6 Wherefore I abhor myself. 
And repent in dust and ashes. 



The Book of Job. 85 

7 And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these 
words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite : 

My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two 
friends ; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is 

8 right, as my servant Job hath. Now therefore, take unto 
you seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant 
Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering ; and my 
servant Job shall pray for you ; for him will I accept, that 
I deal not with you after your folly; for ye have not 
spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job 
hath. 

9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and 
Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the 
Lord commanded them ; and the Lord accepted Job. 

10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he 
prayed for his friends, and the Lord gave Job twice as 
much as he had before. 

11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his 
sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance be- 
fore, and did eat bread with him in his house ; and they 
bemoaned him, and comforted him concerning all the evil 
that the Lord had brought upon him : every man also gave 
him a piece of money, and every one a ring of gold. 

12 So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than 
his beginning: and he had fourteen thousand sheep, and 
six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen and a 

13 thousand she-asses. He had also seven sons and three 

14 daughters. He called the name of the first, Jemima ; and 
the name of the second, Kezia ; and the name of the third, 



86 The Book of Job. , 

15 Keren-happuch. And in all the land were no women so 
fair as the daughters of Job, and their father gave them 
inheritance among their brethren. 

16 And after this Job lived an hundred and forty years, 
and saw his sons, and his son's sons, even four generations. 

17 So Job died, being old and full of days. 



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